Council for Advancement and Support of Education Statement on Preliminary Princeton Decision

Statement by John Lippincott, president of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Robertson v. Princeton lawsuit is a complex case that has yet to be fully vetted in court, so the long-term implications for donors and higher education remain unclear.

However, we know that major gifts to educational institutions typically result from long-term relationships built on trust and mutual interest, and that these gifts are often restricted by donors through gift agreements that define expectations for both the institution and the donor.

Given the depth of the relationships, the detailed nature of gift agreements and the care institutions take in following donor intent, disputes are relatively rare. The continued growth in giving to educational institutions, even during the years of the highly publicized Robertson case, signals that donor confidence in education remains strong.